Many games are packed into tomorrow’s first match of the Super Cup between Barcelona and Athletic. But none with more morbidity than Joan García-Simón. Because the first, with a marvelous campaign last year at Espanyol, has catapulted himself at Barça and his saves in Cornellà against Espanyol have unleashed a well-known debate in the National Team, where Unai is indisputable in the eyes of De la Fuente. The Athletic goalkeeper has had an impeccable career in La Roja, since Luis Enrique bet on him. A stage with titles and finals. But the media noise does not stop ahead of next summer’s World Cup event in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
De la Fuente is going to attend the entire tournament in Saudi Arabiathe two semi-finals and the grand final. The first call will be at the end of March when the coach will announce those chosen to play the Finalíssima against Argentina in Qatar. In the same window, Spain will play a second match. It will be the last list before the final one for the World Cup. Tomorrow the technician will have time to take notes on a pulse in both goals that will be followed with a magnifying glass.
Unfortunately for Simon, Joan García’s postcard save from Pere Milla’s header in Saturday’s derby coincided with a goal by the red and white team from a free-kick by Rubén García with Osasuna. A dry leaf through the center that the international swallowed. He took a step forward, misreading the action, thinking there would be a pass. But that does not erase, by any means, an impeccable career. Rubén García himself took the pressure off: “Given the goalkeeper there was and how far away he was, at first, I didn’t plan to hit either. Because beyond the fact that you may have one hit or another, you know the rival in front of you… in this case Unai Simón who is the best goalkeeper at the national level at least in recent years, without a doubt.”
Ojo: Simón starred in an identical stop to Joan’s feline performance on Saturday in his debut as a lion on August 20, 2018, against Leganés, after a header from Ojeda.
The Biscayans took four goals from the Camp Nou in the league event of this campaign and, in addition, there was a silent battle in the goals. Joan Garcia was returning from injury and his activity was not noticed. He was far superior to his counterpart and showed that he deserves, at least, to fight for one of the places that gives access to the World Cup.
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Joan García surpasses Simón in almost all statistical sections this campaign. Of course, this has a lot to do with the type of game played by each team they belong to. Barça dominates the games, they spend more time on the offensive field than Athletic and their goalkeeper is less stressed, although not as much as in past times. The culé does not receive a single goal per day (0.8), while the lion, a member of the best defense last season, takes the ball out of the net 1.2 times per afternoon. Joan makes 2.7 stops on average and Unai, 2.4. The first neutralizes 77 percent of the shots on goal and the second, 66. In the clean sheets the culé dominates: 43 percent compared to 28.
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